Xaxli'p

To be proud, independent, self-sufficient Xaxli’pmec and continue to purse a land settlement with the Canadian Government; work with the best interest of the Xaxli’pmec with support, trust and respect of one another. For all to be open minded. Xaxli’p ancestors learned the rules of proper land use and of environmental, spiritual, and social behaviour from this place, its waters, wildlife and plants. For Xaxli’p, the land is part of who we are; the people and the land cannot be separated. The land, animals, fish, trees, water, air and people are all Xaxli’p. Xaxli’p means ‘the brow of the hill’. Our main village is at the brow of the hill. We call our government Xaxli’p. Xaxli’pmec means the people from Xaxli’p. Xaxli’pmec are connected to the land, and continue to hunt, fish, and gather food and medicinal plants in the same areas they have used for many generations. Since time out of mind, Xaxli’pmec have recognized that wise land use in their small territory was best accomplished by taking only what they need from the land. For Xaxli’p, the traditional uses of their territory take priority over any other human use of the forest. In the St’at’imc language, the name for “land” is Tmicw, the name for the “people of the land” is Ucwalmicw, and the name of the “language” is Ucwalmicts. These three words are closely related in the language of the St’at’imc people and show how the land, the people and the language are all powerfully tied together. What happens to one happens to the others is the guiding principle of Xaxli’p attitudes toward land use. This means that when you damage one part of the three (land, people, language) you damage all.